Employee Complaints Question 27 Would you describe in detail, and with appropriate appendix documents, procedures your organization uses to consider employee complaints about unfair employment practices. How many complaints have been filed over the past five years? What is the process through which these complaints are considered? What was the outcome of these cases? We have attached two GAO orders which explain procedures used to consider employee complaints. The first order (2771.1) outlines the administrative grievance procedure which affords employees a means to request personal relief when they are dissatisfied with matters relating to their employment which are subject to the control of GAO management. This order also provides for an expedited grievance process. This process is used by employees covered by GAO's broadbanded pay-for-performance system who want to grieve performance appraisals which will be used to make annual bonus, permanent pay and promotion decisions. GAO order 2713.2 contains procedures for employees filing discrimination complaints. We have listed below the types of grievances filed since fiscal year 1988 and the outcome of these grievances. The expedited process was not established until fiscal year 1989, so we have only reported information on these grievances for fiscal years 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992. Administrative Grievances GAO's three-step administrative grievance process encourages the resolution of grievances at the lowest possible level in the organization. First step grievances are typically filed at the first line supervisor level. If matters are not resolved at the first step, the second step decision is made by the manager of the grievant's unit. The Special Assistant to the Comptroller General makes third step decisions. We have reported the results of third-step grievances filed since 1988 and decided by the Comptroller General's designee in these matters--the Special Assistant. Expedited grievances are typically filed in June of each year after employees receive their annual performance appraisals. As mentioned above, a separate process is used to consider these grievances to ensure that they are resolved quickly. Since 1989, 71 expedited grievances have been filed. The listing below highlights the outcome of these grievances. Employees who are not satisfied with the results of this process may file a third step grievance pursuant to the regular grievance process described above. Two individuals have elected to do this. Employee Complaints Question 27 Discrimination Complaints Employees may file a discrimination complaint with GAO's Civil Rights Office. If they are not satisfied with the GAO decision concerning their complaint, they may file a complaint with the General Counsel of GAO's Personnel Appeals Board and in certain circumstances they may file a complaint in U.S. District Court. See: Attachment 27-A Administrative Grievance Procedure (Order 2771.1) Co-Chairmen Boren and Hamilton and Vice Chairmen Domenici and Dreier, I am Roger Herdman, Director of the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA). It is a pleasure to appear before you today in response to your request for testimony on behalf on OTA. OTA has already submitted on May 28, 1993, considerable material in answer to a comprehensive series of questions posed by the Joint Committee. Today I would like to focus on two unique aspects of our agency described in this material which, I believe, distinguish OTA as an interesting and important institution of government. These two aspects are the Technology Assessment Board (TAB), OTA's Congressional governing board, and the OTA research and review process which is common to all of OTA's assessments. The Technology Assessment Board OTA alone among the congressional support agencies reports to a congressional board, which is analogous to a corporate board of directors and is called the Technology Assessment Board. The structure, responsibilities, and functions of TAB have enormous implications for the performance and direction of OTA and the way in which we interact with and serve the Congress. TAB is an equally bicameral, bipartisan body composed of "(1) six Members of the Senate, appointed by the President pro tempo of the Senate, three from the majority party and three from the minority party, (2) six Members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, three from the majority party and three from the minority party" (P.L. 92-484). The Chairman of TAB comes from the House of Representatives in even numbered congresses and is by tradition from the majority party; the Vice Chairman comes from the other house and the other party. The political balance in representation between the two parties and two chambers helps ensure balance in OTA's agenda and |